“No,” I swallowed, clinging to him in relief. “No, I'm fine.”
“Thank fuck.” Ryland took my face in his hands and pressed a hard, anguished kiss to my lips. “I thought you were… goddammit, I thought…”
“Look, I appreciate the touching reunion and all,” Gabriel's voice said from behind us, “but can someone tell me where the bastard is? I wanna beat the shit out of him.”
“Wait!” I rushed. “It's not how it looks. Theo made it look like a kidnap so we could get a confession out of Estelle.”
Ryland's arms tightened. “What kind of dumbass plan—”
“Did it work?” Cam broke in.
I nodded. “I accused her of the murder and blackmail, and she admitted to everything.”
“So we have everything on record,” Cam said, looking dazed.
Ryland stared fiercely at me. “You're damned amazing, did you know that?”
“Um thanks, but... there's still one problem.” I paused. “Theo doesn't want to hand the confession over.”
“He what now?” Gabriel snapped.
“And he plans to send Estelle away. She’s on that plane over there, and it’s headed for Switzerland—”
The door of the plane slammed in the distance then, and all three guys turned with matching looks of murder.
Theo froze in the spot where he'd just descended from the plane.
“I'm gonna kill him,” Ryland growled.
He deposited me with Cam and took off towards Theo, who immediately sprinted in the opposite direction.
Theo was fast, but Ryland was faster, driven by pure rage. I winced as both guys went down in a tackle that would have made an NFL coach proud.
“Help him!” I turned to Cam and Gabriel urgently. “Ryland's going to kill him!”
“That's kind of the point,” Gabriel said. Sounds of muffled curses punctuated his words. “But fine, I'll help. I've been waiting for this for years.”
He shed his jacket and tossed it on the ground heedlessly, and I watched as he bounded towards the two brawling men on the ground.
“He's heading over to beat Theo up, isn't he?” I muttered.
“Yeah, but don't feel too bad for Valentine. He deserves it for all the shit he put us through.” Cam exhaled. “I guess I'll just make sure Estelle doesn't get away—”
A roar of turbine engines split the air.
We watched as the plane made its way down the runway, gradually at first, then quickly picking up speed.
“Too fucking late,” he muttered as it disappeared down the runway, taking off in the air moments later.
“We'll think about later.” I looked back at the fight, which was turning bloodier by the minute. “First, you need to help Theo. I don't want Ryland in prison for murder when we've just gotten you guys out of the threat of it.”
Cam rolled up his shirtsleeves without hurry.
“Guy's really lost it, huh?” he mused. “I've known him my whole life, and I’ve never seen him this scared.”
I bit my lip, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. “He was just worried.”
“More like out of his goddamn mind,” Cam scoffed. “It's fucking pathetic. I'll never let myself fall that low, trust me on that.”
Shaking his head, he strode off towards the three brawling guys, looking like he'd done this a hundred times before.
In the end, it took the combined strength of Cam and two of his guys to pry Ryland and Gabriel off Theo, who did a decent job of defending himself but was no match for the two pissed off guys. Theo was barely conscious by then, and had to be loaded into his car by his own guys.
We got back home in record time after that with Ryland behind the wheel—Worthy was in the hospital getting checked—and once we were back in his bedroom, Ryland stripped me down to inspect me and make sure that there wasn't a scratch on my body.
When his gaze fell on my chafed wrists, his face went dark with murderous rage.
“I'm going to kill him,” he growled.
“Not now,” I said hurriedly. “I'm tired from all the adrenaline.”
That got me Ryland's attention again, and he promptly picked me up and carried me to bed. I huddled against him under the covers, taking in the solidness of his warm body.
“I've never seen you lose your cool like that before,” I murmured.
Ryland flinched when I stroked his darkening jaw where Theo had landed a solid hit.
“You have no idea what went through my mind,” he said, holding me tight against his chest. “I thought of you hurt in an alley somewhere…worse.”
“I'm here now.” I pressed closer, hoping to soothe him.
Instead of settling, Ryland eased me away to look into my eyes with a fierce expression. “Never letting you out of my sight again. Not even for a second.”
“I can take care of myself,” I quickly assured. “Maybe I cried a little, but for the most part I didn't freak out, not even when Theo took out the gun.”
Ryland’s brows snapped together. “The what?” he snarled.
“Oh, it wasn't loaded—”
With a curse, Ryland crushed me harder into his arms, holding me tight against him. “I'm gonna kill that fucker,” he swore.
“Don't,” I mumbled against his chest. “I think he's having a pretty bad day.”
“Like hell he is. That idiot heals like he's superhuman.”
“I'm not talking about his bruises.” I nibbled my lip uncertainly. “Earlier on the plane, Estelle shot at him when she found out that he double-crossed her. The gun wasn’t loaded, but she didn't know that. And she…she aimed for his forehead.”
Ryland stilled, staring at me.
“Bloody hell,” he finally muttered.
“I know.” I plucked at the covers, feeling troubled. “I didn't think she would do it, but Theo said he knew she would. What I don't get is why he handed the gun to her and taunted her in the first place.”
Ryland was silent for a long moment, his jaw tight as he considered.
“I don't know either,” he finally said. “Maybe he wanted to confirm something he's always known.”
“And yet he’s still protecting her.”
“I doubt it’s protection,” Ryland said slowly. “Knowing Theo, it isn't an act of mercy—he’s just looking out for his own reputation. Being caught up in a murder case could fuck up his law firm’s standing. And if it's one thing you should know about Theo, it's that he doesn't forgive. Ever.”
I pressed my cheek to Ryland’s chest. “That sounds like a lonely way to live.”
“That's just how he is.” Ryland rubbed his chin against the top of my head. “Cam’s men are already on their way to Switzerland. We should have Estelle by the end of the week.”
“Okay.”
I toyed with the covers, something nagging at me. “Theo mentioned something else earlier,” I mumbled. “He said Estelle and him bribed Aurelia…”
“Yeah, they did.” Ryland's expression darkened. “The asshole is too damned thorough in his acting.”
“So, she did go to your office?” I swallowed at the thought of it. “What…what did she do?”
He doesn't do commitment, echoed Theo's words. I tried to ignore the stab of jealousy that came with it.
Ryland took my chin and tipped my face up to meet his gaze.
“She tried to seduce me,” he said simply.
My breath caught.
“And I fired her.”
I blinked. “Oh.”
Ryland looked uneasy suddenly. “And if Langdon hadn't been there, I might have done worse,” he confessed in a low voice. “I almost lost my mind when I found out they had you.”
“Hold me,” I whispered, tugging his head down to me.
Ryland obliged and eased down, nestling his face in the crook of my neck. I stroked his hair, absorbing the feel of his large form in my arms.
“Can't be without you, Allie cat,” he said simply, but I felt all his emotion behind it.
I lowered my
head to his, and at the same time Ryland tipped his head back and pressed his lips against mine.
“You're mine,” he told me.
“And you're mine,” I whispered back.
I laced my arms around his neck as he rose up and pressed me back into the mattress.
We kissed tenderly at first. Ryland took over my mouth, angling our faces to go deeper into me, closer.
Then our slow kisses became more fervent, and more urgent.
Rough.
The embers grew into a fire as sounds of lust came from our throats. Our hands began to wander, and I tore at Ryland's undershirt and pants, needing to feel the comfort of his hot skin against mine.
Ryland shed his clothes quickly and gathered my naked body along the length of his. We fit perfectly like two puzzle pieces, soft against hard.
We made out with deep and passionate strokes, seeking comfort in the nearness of each other. Ryland nibbled at my neck and my shoulder, and urgent pleas escaped me as my head fell back helplessly.
Then Ryland eased up, pushed my thighs apart and settled between them.
In a single powerful thrust, he plunged himself deep into me. I gasped at the pleasure-pain and wrapped my legs around him.
I needed him to fill me entirely, needed him to move.
And Ryland moved.
His hands tangled in my hair as he pumped in and out, thrusting into me so hard I felt the impact vibrations deep in my bones.
Our sweaty skin slid against each other, the moans from our throats sounding like a mismatched symphony. We moved, fuelled only by our frenzied need for each other. The bed rocked, and the headboard hit the wall in time with our movements.
Ryland tightened his hand, twisting my hair in his fist. “Look at me.”
I cracked my lids open to see his dark face hovering over mine, strained with effort and lust. His brilliant gaze burned into mine, holding me hostage as he made love to me.
As he fucked me.
Every ounce of pleasure in me was his to command, and I belonged completely to him in that moment and forever.
“I love you.”
We didn't know who said it, but it didn't matter, because it was true for both of us.
“Allie,” Ryland said hoarsely, his control visibly slipping as he thrust deeper into me. “Fuck, Allie…”
“Keep going,” I panted, working my hips. My inner muscles squeezed his large cock greedily every time he entered me. His hard length glided along my flesh with every wet thrust, hard steel parting soft.
“So fucking tight…” His groans were raw as he slammed harder, filling me completely, agitating my clitoris with every impact.
Pleasure overwhelmed my senses, and my mind began to go dark.
“Don't…don't stop,” I breathed, needing this.
Needing him.
The pleasure mounted as Ryland moved, layer upon layer of mindless sensation until finally, it loomed over me in a single breathless wave.
Then Ryland yelled my name as he slammed into me, his cum shooting into my womb in hot spurts. The wave came crashing over me in pure ecstasy, and I screamed as I clung on to Ryland, squeezing him with every muscle in my body, feeling his largeness stretching me as he came and came.
After he was spent, Ryland collapsed over me with a ragged groan, and I held him for long minutes, still recovering from the aftershocks of the orgasm.
Mine, I thought. And I’m his.
Ryland’s weight was crushing me, but I didn't move, loving the feeling of how much stronger he was than me. He was so powerful, and he was mine.
His cock was still buried inside me, and I gave it a little squeeze with my inner muscles. Ryland jerked in response.
“Allie cat,” he said in an amused warning. His voice was hoarse from shouting my name.
I bit my lip, squeezing him again.
He laughed low, then slowly, he slid his length out of me. Twinges of pleasure shot through my belly again, even though I just orgasmed a minute ago.
Ryland headed to the bathroom and returned with a warm cloth for me, as was our ritual now. After he cleaned us up, he returned back to bed and gathered me against his chest, pulling the covers over us. I nestled closer, loving him with every fiber of my being.
“I'm so glad you found me,” I whispered.
“Me too,” his chest rumbled against my cheek. “One of the best things I did with my life.”
“What are the others? Sex?”
“With you,” he agreed.
“What about… blowjobs?” I reached out to stroke his semi-hard cock. It twitched to life in my hand.
Ryland chuckled softly, though it sounded strained. “Yeah, that too.”
“Handjobs?” I gave the head of his cock a teasing caress.
He groaned at that. “Allie… No, wait…” He eased my hand away, and rolled on top of me, bracketing my head with his forearms.
“Dammit, you're so good,” he said, his brows drawn. “But if you start that now, you won't get to rest for a while.”
“I don't want to rest.” I laced my arms around his neck, gazing up at him with heavy-lidded eyes. “I want you to fuck me again.”
“Shit babe, you know I can't resist when you talk like that.”
“You can't resist me, period.” I smiled.
“True.” Ryland tipped my chin up and gazed down at me. “I'll never stop wanting you.”
“Was that a proposal?”
“If it was, what would your answer be?”
“Maybe,” I shrugged. “But I'd prefer a sincere one, with a ring and everything.”
“We've already survived blackmail, a murder attempt and a kidnapping. This is as sincere as it gets.”
I poked at his chest. “I want a good one to tell the kids.”
Ryland grinned, stretching his long body beside mine languidly.
“Careful what you wish for,” he warned. “I could get doves flying in the air and a plane writing your name across the sky. Or shit, maybe a flash mob. You’ll love that.”
“What! No, you know I hate showy stuff.”
“Too late, babe, no take-backs,” Ryland said, echoing my old words back at me.
Then his expression turned solemn. “But seriously, I wanna marry you.”
I bit my lip. “Are you sure? Just a few months ago, you were so against commitment.”
“Just a few months ago, I was an idiot.” Ryland propped his head on his knuckles, watching me closely.
“I did think that marriage was dumb,” he admitted. “Every married couple in my circle signed their contracts for a calculated reason. Joining family finances or businesses, all that stuff. It was like a transaction.”
I frowned. “That’s pretty sad.”
Ryland shrugged. “That’s just how it’s done, and it isn’t my kind of thing.” He reached out and played with my hair, wrapping a lock around his finger.
“Until I met you,” he said solemnly. “I want to sign that paper with you more than any other contract in the world. I want to tie you to me with every possible clause. I want to monopolize your time and your body and your soul. And in return, you can have mine.”
I bit back a smile. Only Ryland could make a business proposal sound romantic.
“Come back again with a ring,” I told him airily. “We’ll deal again then.”
Ryland gazed at me for long moments, then he pulled me back into his arms with a groan.
“Fuck me.” His deep voice rumbled under my cheek. “It's like I miss you even when you're right beside me. And when I'm inside you I can't get close enough.”
“Cheesy,” I teased.
“I'll give you cheesy.” Ryland took my hand and placed it over the steady pounding of his heart. “This beats for you,” he said with a smirk. “Everything that I am is yours. Everything I have is yours…”
Then he paused and looked away, looking puzzled. “Shit. I’m usually so good with business talk. Why is this so hard?”
“Because it matters,” I smi
led. “And because it’s real.”
Ryland exhaled. “I’ll need more time to draft a proper speech. But I’ll make it a good one.”
“I’ll be waiting.” My heart was so full it felt near bursting. “I love you, by the way. I'll never get sick of saying it.”
“And I'll never get sick of hearing it. Say it again.”
“I love you,” I whispered.
Ryland surged up over me, his light blue eyes gleaming with love—and lust.
“Again,” he commanded softly.
“I love you.”
His big hands moved to grasp my knees and part my legs. “Again.”
“I love—oh! Oh yes, Ryland…”
One month later
I was shaving in the hotel bathroom when screaming came from outside, almost making me cut myself.
“Do you see that!”
The mere sound of Allie’s voice made my ears perk up like a sonar.
“Holy mac, you didn't say you had a view of the Eiffel-freaking-Tower!” came a voice from a phone speaker.
Allie was currently on a video call with Karin, and on the first morning of our trip, at that.
But I dealt with it.
It was the first time she was away from her younger sister, and anyway, she had spent the whole of last night focused on me.
My lips curved when I recalled how she had eagerly gone on her knees, gazing up at me with half-lidded eyes as she sucked me off. That woman knew exactly how to drive me crazy with lust.
Wanting to see her again—even though I just woke up beside her ten minutes ago—I finished up at the sink and went to the bathroom door.
As it turned out, the shit with Estelle and Theo had taken longer than expected to settle. Cam’s men were still looking for Estelle, and Theo refused to open his damned mouth.
Our trip had been pushed back two weeks, then three weeks, until I decided that I was done waiting. We were going on that trip that I promised Allie, whether we had Estelle or not.
Leaning against the jamb of the bathroom door, I crossed my arms and watched as she held her phone up and turned in circles in our hotel suite, focused on showing every inch of the place to Karin. The morning sun streamed in through the French doors she had thrown open, making her look like some angel that fell from the sky.
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